Valve for regulating the flow of fluids



Jan. 19, 1932. c. BROTHERTON VALVE FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF FLUIDSOriginal Filed Feb. 29, 1928 Patented Jan. 19, 1932 'nm'ran STATESGLIFFUED BROTEERTON, F BRIGHOUSE, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNPATENT QFFICE MEETS, 130 If P. MORRIS do DE LA VEBGNE, INCORPORATED, ACORPORATION OF JDM'WABE "VALVE FOR REGULATING THE FLQW 0F FTtUID alication mealrebmar as, less, Serial The invention relates to flowcontrol valves of the type in which 'a body of circular sec-v tionsurrounds an internal cylinder spaced from the body by radial ribs toform an t annular waterway, such cylinder being closed at one end andhavin working within it a hollow plunger provided with a tapered noseadapted to seat itself upon a contracting part of the body to close thevalve.

It is known in a valve of this description to provide means, foroperating or moving the plunger, comprising an internal rack memberconnected with the plunger, said rack meshin with a pinion on a shaftwhich extends to t e exterior of the body, and is there provided withworm gearing to enable it to be turned.

The present invention has for its objectto provide improved meanswhereby, before any movement of the plunger takes place, the interior ofthe cylinder and hollow plunger will be placed into communication eitherwith a supply of pressure liquid or with a region of low pressure, sothat movementoi the plunger in the desired direction will befacilitated.

The invention is characterized in that the worm of the external wormgear referred to is arranged to be capable, along with its shaft, of acertain amount of axial'travel so that at each reversal of rotation ofthe worm it will travel idly along the teeth of its co operatmg wormwheel, as along a fixed rack. The axial travel or lost motion of theworm thus valve, controlling communication between the interior of thecylinder and hollow plunger, and the pressure supply or the region or"low pressure respectively, so that when the worm is turned in avalve-opening direction the interior of the cylinder and plunger will beconnected to the region of low grossure, and when turned in the oppositeirection pressure fluid will be admitted to the interior of the cylinderand plunger, the change-over of the pressure connections being made ineach-case before the worm, owing to arrest of its axial travel, becomesoperative to turn its co-operating worm Wheel and th reby effectmovement of the plunger.

obtained is utilized to operate a two-way By the provision of means suchas described the movement of the plunger is assisted, or

facilitated, whilst the plunger is absolutely dead-beat, that is to sayno free movement \of the plunger is possible at any time,

the valve casing or body, I) the internal cyl-' inder, and c thethollowplunger having connected to it the rack member d, which meshes withaninternal pinion e on a shaft fextending to the exterior of the body andcarrying,

externally or the body, a worm wheel 9 by which the shaft f may berotated.

According to the invention, the shaft h of a worm it, for driving theworm. wheel g, passes through two bearlngs c and i spaced apart at adistance suitably greater than the length of the Worm. Gne end oftheshaft carries or is connected toa valve member j working in a casin kprovided with three ports Z, we, and a, he port Z is connected by a pipeE with the interior of the internal cylinder Z1, the port in isconnected by a sup: ply pipe m with the waterway of the valvecommunication is opened up between the interior of the cylinder andplunger and the No. 257,995, and in reat Britain March 2, 1987. EenewedNovember 21., 11930,

on the upstream side of the seating, and the waterway above the seating,whilst inthe other position of the valve member the pressure inlet orsuppl connection m is shut oil' and the interior 0 the cylinder andplunger is placedinto communication with the pipe line below theseating.

Assumingthe valve tobe openas shown in a Fig. 1, the actuating worm isat one limit of its axial travel and the valve member j is in theposition to connect the interior of the cylinder and plunger to theregion of low pressure. if the worm h is turned in a direction to closethe valve, it first travels idly,

to the opposite limit of itsaxial movement,

and in so doing moves the valve member to the position shown in Fig. 2,in which the port n is closed and the port m opens. When,

therefore, the worm reaches the end of its idle travel and becomesoperative to move the plunger, the inlet pressure actin within thecylinder and plunger reduces t e efiort reuired. Similarly, when openingthe valve,

' the pipes Z, m, an a respectively, to enplunger.

able the casing in to be isolated when required.

Although I have shown a sliding valve for chan ing over the pressureconnections, it will e obvious that the lost motion of the actuatingworm may be utilized to eflect turning of a rotary valve or cook.

Means of any suitable descri tion will preferably be provided whereby eworm can, when des1red,be locked against axia movement, so that therewill be no lost motion between commencement of actuation of the worm andits operative effects on the Such provision will enable the valve to beused, say, for throttling flow in cases Where the inlet side of thevalve is subject to dpressure and the'outlet side is under reduce oratmospheric pressure, causing relatively high flow velocity through thevalve, as for instance at an outlet from a dam or pressure conduit. Themeans referred to may take conveniently the form of a art adapted to beinserted between one on of the 'worm and the adjacent fixed bearing 21or z Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new apd desireto secure by Letters Patent is:' v

1. A valve of the chaacter described comprising a casing a cylindertherein, a plunger slidable in the cylinder and controlling the flowthrough said casing, a shaft mounted in the casing and having a rack andpinion connection with the plunger, a worm wheel on the shaft a wormengagin said wheel and mounted for limited longitudinal slidingmovement, connections between the cylinder and the hi h and low pressureregions of the casing, an a valve member contro ling the flow throughsaid connections between the c linder and the high and lower pressurereglons of the casin and connected to the worm to be reverse in theinitial rotation of the worm in opposite directions.

2. A valve mechanism comprisin inner and outer casings spaced to form am atively smooth annular fluid passageway therapetween, a plungertelescopingwith said inner casin to form an internal fluid pressure chamer and adapted to coo crate with said other casing to control fluid owthrough the valve mechanism, and means for controlling the operation ofsaid plunger including a fluid pressure sup ly passage for said internalchamber, a ischarge passage, control valve means for controlling saidpassages located externally of'said outer casing, and means formechanically operatin said plunger and o erating said contro valve meansso that uring normal pressure conditions of the flow through the valvemechanism, said control valve means operates prior to mechanicalactuation of the plunger.

3. A valve mechanism comprising 1n combination, inner and outer casingspaced to form a relatively smooth annular fluid passagewaytherebetween, a plunger telescoping with said inner casing to form aninternal fluid pressure chamber therewith and adapted to ave seatingengagement with said outer casing to prevent fluid flow through thevalve mechanism, said plunger and inner casing having their walls whichare exposed to fluid flow through the valve'mechanism entirely closed,fluid pressure suppl and discharge passages for said interna chamber,valve means for controlling said passages and means for mechanicallyactuating sai plunger and for controlling said valve means, saidmechanical actuating means having provision whereb the control valve forsaid supply and discharge passages is o erated prior to mechanicalactuation of the p ungor.

4. A valve mechanism comprising in combination inner and outer casings sweed to form a relatively smooth annular uid passageway therebetween, aplunger telesoopin with said inner casing to form an interna fluidpressure chamber therewith and adapted to ave seatingengagement withsaid out er casing to prevent fluid flow through the valve mechanism,said plunger and inner casing having their. walls which are exposed tofluid flow throu h the valve mechanism entirely closed, fluid pressuresup ly and discharge passages for said interna chamber disposedexternally of said outer casing and having connections with said annularfluid passe away at points up and downstream of t e seat thereof, valvemeans for controllin said passages, and means for mechanica ly actuatingsaid plun er and for controlling said valve means, sai mechanicalactuating means having provision whereb the control valve for saidsupply and disc urge passages is operated prior to mechanical actuationof the plunger.

5. A valve mechanism comprising, in combination, a'casing having a valveseat, a second casing a plungerislidably supported by said secon casingto form a flui pressure chamber and adapted to engagesaid seat, and

means for effecting both mechanical and fluid pressure operation of saidlunger including fluid pressure supply and ischarge passages and controlvalve mechanism for controlling both of said latter passages andoperatively connected to said plunger for movement in a directiontransverse to that of said plunger.

6. A valve mechanism comprising, in comhination, a casing having a valveseat, a second casing, a plunger slldably su dported by said secondcasing tohform a flui pressure chamber and adapted to engage said seat,

and means for effecting both-mechanical and fluid pressure operation ofsaid lunger including fluid pressure su ply ans discharge passages andcontrol va ve mechanism for said passages dis-posed externally of saidvalve seat casing, said control valve mechanism having provision forcontrolling said passages automatically prior to mechanical actuation ofthe plunger.

In testimon whereof I afix my signature.

CL FFORD BROERTUN.

